Eternal Ruin Book Review | Tigest Girma

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Academia, Vampires, Paranormal, Romance, Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers, Horror
Pages: 544
Format: Physical
Rating:

“I want you to exist. So we command the dark, we never let it possess us.”

Initial Thoughts

Eternal Ruin is the highly anticipated sequel to Immortal Dark, and listen. I am rarely on top of new releases, but I PRE-ORDERED this book. I was ready. I had high expectations. Unfortunately, November and December were chaotic, so I didn’t get to read this until January, but the anticipation never faded.

The Plot (Spoiler-Free!)

Kidan is on a mission to master her house, no matter the cost. She will face anyone in her way, including her own sister. She is willing to ally herself with anyone too, even the rogue Nefrasi vampire, Samson.

As the founding houses prepare to vote on whether Adane House will remain a middle house, the stakes could not be higher. If Adane House loses its status, Kidan will never be able to master it or set its rules. Her closest friends, Slen and Yusef, hold critical votes, but will their loyalty outweigh politics?

Meanwhile, Kidan’s relationship with Susenyos remains volatile and emotionally charged. Does she love him, or does she hate him? Does she want his help, or does she want to destroy him? As she learns more about her deceased parents and the truth behind her family’s past, Kidan must decide whether she will succumb to the darkness or choose the light.

What I Liked

So much happens in this book.

Female rage: Kidan is on a WARPATH. She is the embodiment of female rage. She wields a dark magic–channeling book that feels very HP6-coded, and she is essentially able to turn off her humanity in a way that gave me strong TVD vibes.

World-building: The world expands endlessly. The Last Sage, the Artifacts, the Six Lions, the binds, the house histories, the exploration of Mortal Vowed life, the Aseracti. Every layer deepens the story and character motivations without feeling overwhelming.

Sister betrayal: June is back, but she is distant, cold, and indifferent to the trauma she caused Kidan during her disappearance. Low key though, she is one of the most important characters in the book.

Brother betrayal: Susenyos and Samson are at each others throats….literally. But the flashbacks provide so much context.

Friendship: Kidan still has Slen and Yusef at her side, but for how long? With the houses voting on Adane House’s future, their loyalty is tested in more ways than one.

Grief: Even with June’s return, nothing is the same. Kidan is grieving what was lost while also mourning GK. Her determination to find him and make things right adds emotional weight to every decision she makes.

Family: Kidan is uncovering truths about her parents that challenge everything she thought she knew. To master her house, she must either fully align with its culture, sever herself from it entirely, or create something new.

Death: I love a high-stakes fantasy that is not afraid to kill characters. That’s all I’ll say.

Pacing: Absolute perfection.

Multi-POV:  With perspectives from Kidan, Yos, June, and GK, the story gains depth and emotional complexity that elevates the entire narrative.

Romance: I saved this for last on purpose. While this is a dark academia fantasy romance, it absolutely stands on its own without the romance, which I loved. The plot is strong, layered, and relentless. That said, Kidan and Susenyos have one of the most tumultuous relationships I have ever read. They are both carrying immense grief and trauma, and it shows.

Some of my favorite quotes:

“I can have more than one reason to kill someone, little bird. I had five for you once.”

“Why is it so difficult for you to show me loyalty? If you gave me a grain of the devotion you waste on your traitorous sister or your scheming friends, we would be unstoppable.”

What Didn’t Work for Me

Honestly, this book was nearly perfect. It is an easy five deer-star read. The only thing was this “plot twist” that I saw coming from a mile away. I wish it had been a bit less obvious, but there were plenty of other twists that completely blindsided me, so I can forgive it.

Final Thoughts

There is a lot happening in Eternal Ruin, but the pacing is so well executed that it never feels chaotic or overwhelming. This was peak fantasy romance for me, rich world-building, emotional depth, and high stakes. I am eagerly waiting for the next installment.

If you would like to support The Reading Deer, you can purchase this book here. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.